Excerpts from our April session of the Virginia Poe Bicentennial Discussion Series. Celebrate National Poetry Month with dramatic readings and discussion.

Act I: Poe’s Feminine Ideal — The Death of a Beautiful Woman

Poe is notorious for asserting the death of a beautiful woman is”the most poetical topic in the world.” Dr. Amy Branam Armiento will discuss how Poe depicts this idea in some of his writing, as well as how this stance is viewed today.

Act II: POETESS

Dramatic readings of select Edgar Allan Poe poems & original work by female-identifying poets from Baltimore and Richmond.

María Badillo

Elizabeth Hazen

Jennifer N. Shannon

Kate Campbell Stevenson

Act III: Would the real Annabel Lee please stand up?

No fewer than seven women could have been the inspiration for Poe’s last love poem, published after his death. We present the candidates and let the audience vote! Discussion with David Gaylin, President of the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore.

This is the fourth in a series of monthly programs for the Virginia Poe Bicentennial. The Virginia Poe Bicentennial is presented by Poe Baltimore, Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, the Poe Cottage at Fordham (Bronx, NYC,) with generous help and participation from Poe Studies Association, The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore and The Poe Museum (Richmond.)

Raven Illustrations by Dore.

Kate Campbell Stevenson is a proud board member of Maryland Women’s Heritage Center and serves as their Cultural Ambassador. Stevenson, a professional actor, producer and life-long community activist was inducted into The Daily Record 2020 Circle of Excellence for her “significant professional accomplishments, outstanding community leadership and inspirational mentoring.” She created Women: Back to the Future –a series of inspiring one-woman shows now in its 25th season– which she performs for audiences throughout the U.S.